USA Camp 2023: Never Gonna Hold Me Down with Matthew McPeake
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Archive for month: January, 2024
My Experience at Kao BJJ in Ethiopia
Hi there, I’m Heythem from heythemnaji.com.
I spend my time blogging& traveling – visiting different BJJ Gyms around the world, especially in places where you wouldn’t expect to find BJJ.
I’ve been to BJJ Gyms in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya, and I’m currently training in Baghdad, Iraq.
One experience I hold dear is my time at Kao BJJ in Addis Ababa.
At the beginning of 2023, I went to Ethiopia for three months. Of course, I didn’t want to stop training Jiu-Jitsu. So, I tried to find a way to train BJJ in Ethiopia. I looked online to see whether I could find a BJJ gym. I only found one in the whole country: Kao BJJ in Addis Ababa.
I didn’t know what to expect. It was my first time going to a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym outside of Europe. So I took a cab and went there.
I’m so grateful I went – they have many dedicated and driven athletes and one of the nicest atmospheres I’ve ever witnessed.
Training Schedule, Location & Pricing
They train 4x a week – Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. You can check out their schedule on their Instagram site.
They offer both Gi and No-Gi training. But I didn’t have my Gi, so it’s okay to come without a Gi if you don’t have one.
They are located right behind Meskel Square, in Juventus Club. I got a bit lost getting there, but if you get lost, ask the locals about “Juventus Club.” They usually know. Once in Juventus Club, go through until the very end of the complex – there you find their Gym.
And if you take a cab (Feres or Ride are the cab companies in Ethiopia – similar to Uber), tell them to drive you to Meskel Square.
The pricing of this Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gym is not high if you are used to European or American prices. For exact prices, either contact them on Instagram or Facebook or text Yared (the head coach) directly at his number: +251 92 217 1985.
When I trained there, I discovered that a blue belt training under Kao opened up his own Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Gym in Hawassa, Ethiopia! So I also went and visited them too.
This Gym is much smaller but equally as nice. If you want his contact, contact me or ask the guys in Addis about him.
My Experience at Kao BJJ
I can not speak highly enough of that Gym. They take their training seriously. Their head coach was an American black belt named Colin. Unfortunately, he is no longer there, so the head coach is a purple belt named Yared.
Yared is highly skilled, and he knows how to teach. Even though he knew I would be there for a limited time, he took his time for me. He gave me attention and was super friendly. You can truly feel he’s passionate about what he’s doing.
The Gym is packed on weekdays. Although it is rather small, there’s enough space for everybody.
Their team consists of a great mix of white and blue belts. And from what I saw, the blue belts are legit. They could easily compete with the blue belts in Europe.
I felt welcome there at all times. They were very supportive and welcoming, and I loved training with them. I cannot wait to go back.
The Background of Kao BJJ
The head coach, Yared, has a Judo background and got involved in BJJ (Idk how, good question you should ask him…) He was a blue belt when he started Kao BJJ in Ethiopia.
Then Colin, the American black belt, took over most of the training. Under him, Yared got promoted to a purple belt.
They started small, but over the years, more people became interested. I also saw some non-Ethiopians training there.
Now, they have many great members—many new white belts, some established white belts, and many blue belts.
Now, they are recognized as one of the best BJJ Gyms in East Africa, with many great athletes training there.
The Future of BJJ in Ethiopia
Kao BJJ’s goal is to make Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu more accessible in Africa. They are at the forefront of promoting this beautiful martial art. They are the only ones training BJJ in Ethiopia and want to expand.
They are also cooperating with BJJ Gyms in neighboring African countries. They participate in East African competitions and are heavily involved in the BJJ community.
Their intention is beautiful, and I’m sure they’ll have great success. From what I saw, the future of BJJ in Ethiopia is bright.
Final Words
So, as you can see, I’m a fan. Ethiopia is not easy to navigate at the beginning. I was in a foreign country, which was a lot to process.
But once I went to Kao, things became easier. I met great people, got a lot of guidance and support, and had a great time there.
So, if you’re considering visiting a BJJ Gym in Ethiopia, please do. They are open to everybody and have a great atmosphere.
And if you have any questions, please reach out; I’m happy to help!!
Featured affiliated academy: Principle Jiu Jitsu, Wales
Where is the gym located?
We are located in Cardiff, South Wales. We operate out of one of the largest gyms in Cardiff and it’s called Ufit.
How many people train there?
We are still a new club but currently we have 9 regular members who are mostly new beginners.
Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
We have only been open for a few months but the future is bright. Ufit is a training ground for fitness competitors in Powerlifting, Crossfit, and other disciplines.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
Highest is 4 stripe brown belt and lowest are brand new white belts.
When did Principle Jiu Jitsu, Wales open?
At the start of October 2023.
Some facts about you:
Name: Jason Yean
Age: 39
Belt: Brown
Profession: Sports Masseuse and Rehabilitation
Years in BJJ: 12
Other martial arts: Tae Kwon Do, Ninjitsu
Currently living in: Barry, South Wales
Originally from: Born in South Wales but grew up in Malaysia.
Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence
I have been looking to start my own gym for a couple of years. It was difficult finding a location, but I was determined to find the right one instead of just teaching for the sake of it. My patience paid off and the location that I’m in at the moment couldn’t be better. We are centrally located in Cardiff and we have natural footfall from experienced competitors in other sports and disciplines.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
The people who train are people who have been going to the gym their whole lives. They were looking for another challenge to complement their training, and they could not have picked a better martial art. We do also get the odd boxer coming through. We get people from other clubs coming to train with us as well. We welcome everyone to train.
Why do they train in Principle Jiu Jitsu, Wales?
They train to challenge themselves. They don’t realise it yet but they’ve been bitten by the BJJ bug.
What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
The main challenges for me personally are trying to feed my students information in a timely fashion. They are all mostly brand new starters, so I’m taking my time working through the fundamentals so that they can start with good habits.
The financial side is not a concern, as I charge the gym an hourly fee to teach there. This is an avenue I would suggest to anyone wanting to start a new academy.
The other challenge is managing different personalities and egos. It is imperative to keep the vibe positive and friendly, so working through those issues at all times is so important.
How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
I see it to be a bright one. There are not that many academies in our area and we are a city. I have plans to grow it and make it the best that it can be.
What’s the best thing about Principle Jiu Jitsu, Wales?
We leave our egos at the door and we keep it about Jiu Jitsu
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
Wales is an absolutely beautiful part of the world. We are surrounded by the coast, mountains, and beautiful valleys. Cardiff has got a fantastic night scene and it’s very easy to get around. The Brecon Beacons is a magical trek and insight into the nature that Wales is capable of. We have massive waterfalls and great beaches as well. I am happy to direct any earnest traveller – just get in touch with me.
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Thanks for sharing! If you’d like to visit Principle Jiu Jitsu, Wales you can contact them here.
USA Camp 2023: Octopus half guard the living daylights out of your opponent with Aaron Esdon
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Featured Traveller: Melissa Franson – BJJ Globetrotters
Age: 37
Belt: Blue
Profession: Pharmacist
How many years in BJJ: On and off for 6 or 7 years
Other martial arts: I started with aikido, then switched to judo and BJJ. We’ve started doing some boxing/combatives/MMA in the last couple years at our gym. I competed in Irish Collar and Elbow wrestling at the Faroe Islands camp.
Where do you live: Pittsville, WI, USA
Where are you from: Pittsville
Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I also enjoy going hunting. It’s nice knowing where my food comes from how it was handled through the whole process to get to the freezer. It also allows me to spend time outdoors.
Melissa Franson – BJJ Globetrotters Camp in Faroe Islands
Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
During most of the first year of COVID, I wasn’t able to train much because of lockdown and then things being crazy with work. I don’t remember how I first found the BJJ Globetrotters website, but I kept looking at the camps and they looked so fun. Eventually I just signed up. I said not being able to travel or train for a year made me do something crazy and sign up for my first camp.
Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
I just got back from a short trip to Yellowknife, Canada. It took me three flights to get there and three flights back, with only two days in Yellowknife, but it was a great trip and definitely worth it. I got to go dog sledding and I met some amazing people. This was my first time trying out matsurfing.
The next trip I’m planning is to the spring Zen Camp. I plan to go a few days early and stay a few days after the camp so I can do some touristy stuff and see the area. Friends have given me some tips and suggestions, but I don’t have anything set yet.
Melissa Franson – BJJ Globetrotters Camp
What are the things you enjoy about travelling?
There are so many beautiful places around the world. I enjoy being able to see and experience those places. I’ve met some pretty cool people during my travels. And the food, trying different kinds of food… you can’t say you don’t like something if you’ve never tried it.
Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
When I went to the Maine Camp, I walked into my cabin the first day and the first person I met lives two hours from me. We get together once in a while and have gone to other camps together since. It’s crazy to travel that far to meet someone from home.
The first time I met Alan Titone was at the Arizona camp. He did a class on setting goals and then taking steps to actually accomplish those goals. One of my goals was to go to Sweden and to find relatives that are still living in Sweden. So when I went to the first Faroe Islands camp last year, I decided to take an extra week since I was already in Europe to go to Sweden to visit the country (or one of the countries) my family came from. I was able to meet some distant cousins and even stayed with them for a couple days while I was there.
What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
How easy it is to travel between countries in Europe.
Melissa Franson – BJJ Globetrotters
Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
Sometimes, though not quite as much as I used to when I was a poor college student. When I look at plane tickets, I’ll look at different airports and different days to see where I can find a good deal, but sometimes it’s worth paying a little more for a direct flight. I’ve stayed in hostels instead of a hotel so that I can spend a little more on experiences.
If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
I like to look up things to do, but only book one or two things ahead of time. Then when I get wherever I’m going, I ask locals what they recommend doing or seeing. They can tell you if the things you find online are worth doing/seeing or if there’s something else that’s better/less crowded.
Thank you to Melissa Franson – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!
USA Camp 2023: I’ve Been Ghosted Again! (A vanishing act from bottom side control) w/ Kirk Phillips
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USA Camp 2023: Corkscrew triangles (A different spin on an old technique) with Michael Currier
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